Historical fiction at its very best! This is a fascinating story about Thomas Wolsley from his humble beginnings to his rise and subsequent fall from grace. Wolsley's high living, his lack of religious behaviour for so much of his life while he devoted himself to Henry VIII, running the country while Henry amused himself. Thomas's love of Joan who he loved all his life, but could not put her before his dedication to Henry. Fascinating reading.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Alison Weir/Headline for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have read many books on the Tudors, but not about Thomas Wolsey, so I was very glad to have the opportunity to read this. Meticulously researched this really went into his whole life in depth, whereas we usually just hear about him around the time of Henry VIII's break with Rome and divorce from Katherine of Aragon. It did drag a little in places, but overall was a fascinating read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

I enjoyed this but I felt it was very repetitive in places and it felt more like non fiction with barely anything to tell of the history of the time. It didn't go into detail on what Tom was actually doing and how he was around the King but also I got sick of hearing about his forbidden love and how its all he could think about while saying he knew what he was doing was a sin but also how god would want this for him!
I finished it but I have to say at a push, this is the first book I have read by this author so will have to see if I want to read more or if they are all similar.

Alison Weir usually writes novels about women in Tudor history and I was fascinated to see what she'd make of the life of one of the Tudor era's most powerful men other than Henry VIII himself. So much research has gone into this novel - closing my eyes I can really imagine I'm immersed in that world and even though I knew what happened to Wolsey before I read this, Weir keeps up the suspense so much so that we can see how that era must have felt to people living through it who had no idea how events would end. Fabulous writing and an interesting take on Wolsey's rise and subsequent fall.

I would give this 5 stars
This is the story of the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
It is not often that we get to read of his life story from his birth to his fall from grace, normally you only read of him during the Kings great matter.
So it was great to get more insights into his humble beginnings and his rise to power.
Henry VIII really relied on him for everything.
It was interesting to read of the divorce proceedings from a different point of view not Anne Boleyns story.
I really enjoyed reading this it was Alison Weir at her best.

This was an excellent account on Cardinal Wolsley. Recently more focus has been made on Thomas Cromwell so this was a refreshing insight on the life of the Cardinal and also on Henry VIii.

I don't know what I was expecting: maybe something like Wolf Hall? Sadly this isn't anywhere near that quality. I felt it read like a history text book with the odd bit of dialogue. I have read other works by Alison Weir, and realised as I was reading the Cardinal that I'd been disappointed before. I had hopes that this brilliant subject would lift the writing. But no. Not for me.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the free digital pre publication copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This is Alison Weir at her best, so thoroughly researched then brought to life with the day to day story of this huge historical figure. It is refreshing to have this period of time explored with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey at the centre, rather than Henry VIII and his wives which has been covered so often. I loved to learn more about the history of the time, as well as it being a thoroughly good story. To be honest I did start to get a little bored about half way through, but not enough to give less than 5* as after that it gripped me to the end. I highly recommend this novel to other lovers of historical fiction, especially of this time period.

Oh my word, what an amazing imagining of Thomas Wolsey's life written so well with the characters leaping from the page to enthrall the reader, I enjoyed this so much and will definitely be reading more of Alison's books, thank you

Alison Weir has brought her wealth of knowledge, usually in non fiction titles, to the fire in this amazing novel about Wolsey. He’s a name familiar to most, but I certainly knew little about him as a person. This is an exceptional story where we delve right into his life, from boyhood onwards and I was enthralled. I’m confident that the rich historical detail is accurate and rather than fanciful interpretation, I feel that Alison Weir has gone to the heart of many of those depicted, including Henry, and brought them to vibrant life. Rather than names, these are people with foibles and flaws alongside their strengths, but there’s intrigue in how they were shaped and their influences and influencers. This isn’t just another book about the Tudors. It’s a skilled blend of fact and fiction that gives unique and rich insight into the man and his family and the whole court. It’s lengthy, but somehow the pages flashed by and I was engrossed from start to finish. If you read only one book about Wolsey, let it be this one.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I really enjoyed this. I had been feeling we were at saturation point with the Tudors in fiction so it was wonderful to have a different viewpoint. The author really immerses the reader in the daily life, from when Tom is a boy to the machinations of the court of Henry VIII. It is a testament to her skill that we are gripped by the story from this POV, even though ultimately we all know what happens and how it comes about. I loved it. It's rich and vivid in detail and the characters are all brilliantly brought to life. By fleshing out the story of Joan and her children, it provides a very human side to the figure of Wolsey. He steps out of history and becomes much more relatable and understandable. It's a long read, which I love, so by the end the reader is immensely satisfied.

This is an excellent recounting of a great man I knew very little about cardinal wolsey and have lapped up the story, then, always a sign of a good historical novel, gone and researched the man, his life, children, mistress and relationship with Henry viii after I’d finished the book. Although a book of fiction because who knows what went on in those days, it tells his story sympathetically and with great heart. A brilliant read and, as expected with this author, a book to be recommended to all

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

This book is not for the faint hearted. It is HEFTY!

But for Tudor's fan it's another POV from one of the influencial people in King Henry VIII's life. After reading the Six Queens series, it was refreshing see the story told from the Cardinals side.

My thanks to Alison Weir, their publishing team and Netgalley for the chance to read this.

A meticulously researched and sympathetic account of Cardinal Wolsey’s life, I’d expect no less from Alison Weir. Being a fan of Tudor history, I knew a lot of the story already but it was so interesting to read about his secret partner and children!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

We all know about Thomas Wolsey, right.
There are lots of excellent historians who are accomplished students and excellent storytellers.
To my mind Alison Weirs is the best of those.
The story is gripping with lots of insights into parts of his life that are not normally written about.
I loved the parts of the tale about his (common law) wife and children, and this is written in such a way that shows that it does not matter who you are there is the likelihood of the same types of joy and problems.
I like the characterisation of (King) Henry (VIII). The book depicts him as someone who though determined to be a strong king has weaknesses (especially Anne Boleyn).
A fantastic array of characters, with lots that I have not heard of, any many that I knew little about.
I am looking forward to Alison's next book, and I must find those that I have not yet read to save for a rainy day. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Brilliant! I've read a few of Weir's Tudor novels and they are always meticulously researched and give interesting historical detail in novel format. Of course I am familiar with Wolsey but have never known much about him - to me overshadowed by his protégée Cromwell ( as brilliantly portrayed in the Wolf Hall Trilogy by Mantel). So this was an excellent read, both for historical perspective and for story. Highly recommend - Weir is a great historical novelist

Thomas Wolsey was a statesman, peace-broker, and spokesman for and confidante of King Henry VIII. Author Alison Weir approaches his biography by taking a cast of hundreds, then making the complex simpler and easy to read. She writes of Thomas falling in love with Joan and of their children, explaining that as a cardinal a romantic relationship was forbidden and Joan kept hidden and their children sent away at birth to avoid scandal. Above all, Tom Wolsey is ambitious. When he is faced with the choice between retiring from public office to be with Joan and their son, or marrying her to another man, he picks his career and is then jealous when he finds her settled and a mother. This is a book based on historical accounts of the man, and although authorial decisions include speculation and the author suggests and invents storylines for dramatic purposes, there is not a lot of insight to the main characters feelings or motivations. This keeps things simple, and the focus on Wolsey who is bright, brilliant and ambitious, but I prefer a storyline where characters reveal depth and complexity. Tom’s emotional range is narrow in this telling: he cries and feels sorry for himself, is petulant, thinks about having sex with Joan a lot, and he is hypocritical and maudlin when he is unable to have a career and family and finds himself out of favour with the king. At the end of his life, Tom embraces a simpler life, but he still craves affirmation and lives comfortably with servants, is shown respect and with hopes that he will be returned to his former power and influence. I am impressed by how a complex man’s life has been written so simply but this is a very different approach to, say, Wolf Hall which seethes with intrigue, passion and ruthless ambition.

I found this a fascinating insight in to the life of Thomas Wolsey at such an interesting time in English history. Even though it is fiction, Alison Weir always seems to research her subject very well and that really brings the people and times to life. I always appreciate the author's notes at the end of the books to help separate fact from fiction. This book covers the life of Wolsey, including his rise and fall from power and describes very well his greed and need for power above all else, including a great love in his life. Obviously he is a very well known person so it was interesting to think of his reasoning and his relationship with King Henry VIII. Alison Weir really is fantastic at bringing historical characters to life and colouring in their story.

I love Weir's books and I was keen to start this latest book, exploring the life of Thomas Wolsey. I knew a lot about Wolsey's later years but not his early life so it was interesting to learn more about this. I also enjoyed 'learning' about his thoughts - whilst I realise this is Weir's thoughts and interpretations, they are plausible and based on fact where possible.
Weir, as always captures the time superbly and I was transported to this turbulent time. Weir portrays the other people of the time well and it was interesting to see them from another's perspective.
For me this was let down a bit by the length. I feel this is a bit too long and the drama and pace was lost a bit as a result.
Overall 'The Cardinal' is another great read from Weir and I enjoyed reading about a more sympathetic Wolsey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.

Who’d have thought I could have been so invested in Cardinal Wolsey’s life?! Alison Weir - you’ve done it again! You never let me down and you bring history to vivid life.

I’m absolutely enamoured by this era of history and the intrigues of Tudor times. She wins me over more and more with each subsequent book and I’ve made it my mission to go back and read everything she’s ever written! I enjoy them so much.

They’re such immersive reads and they have you flung into history and following the lives of who she spotlights. I find myself rapidly reading through, without noticing the numbers of pages I’ve consumed in one sitting. It’s like reliving history itself.

I didn’t know that much of Wolsey prior, aside from the bits included in history textbooks and of his reputation. It was great to read an insight into his life and all that happened within it. He certainly lived a life and one can’t help but be impressed from how high he rose from his humble beginnings (to how high he could fall..!). A butchers son to beloved confident to the eminent king himself!

I’m also making my way through her Tudor Queens series and her books are just my absolute favourite thing. I seriously loved this book. 100/10.